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Tracking Henri: Suffolk County Avoids Hurricane-Strength Winds, But Bracing For Storm Surge

HAMPTON BAYS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Eastern Long Island may have ducked a hurricane, but residents are not out of the woods yet.

Tropical Storm Henri's torrential rains combined with surges from high tides and treacherous rip currents at Shinnecock Inlet to cause moderate flooding in East End shore communities. Dune Road was closed down, as was the Ponquogue Bridge.

"Had this hit as predicted, we would be standing under water right now," McLogan said to Southampton Police Chief Steve Skrynecki said.

"Well, there's a good possibility. We certainly caught a break with the storm moving a little bit further east and it's moving rather quickly, which is also a benefit," Skrynecki said.

"We had some north winds that pushed the surge over. We are very blessed with that," one driver said.

"Still, pay attention when they warn you because you never know when it will be," another added.

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Residents of the North and South forks rejoiced that hurricane-force winds did not materialize, but added they are worried about the potential for damaging power outages throughout the night, before the area is given the all clear.

"We'll have to see what's going to happen. I feel nervous," one person said.

Sunday evening, PSEG Long Island reported just under 600 customers were without power.

PHOTOS: Henri Impacts Tri-State Area

In Montauk, massive sea swells pounded the bluffs and rock jetty. All boats were brought ashore. But Henri spared Long Island's tip as the eye of the storm moved east. The Great South Bay and Peconic Bay were being closely monitored.

Winds were gusty, but nowhere near what PSEG LI expected.

"We're not here yet, but, again, we won't know until it gets here. So, all the prognosticators could be wrong," one person said.

WATCH: Suffolk County Executives Hold Latest Henri Briefing 

A hardware store on Montauk Highway sold out of flashlights and batteries, and there was a run on gasoline, too.

"We saw a few parking lot fights at the gas station," one area resident said.

RELATED: 'The Worst Of The Storm Is Yet To Come,' Nassau County Exec. Warns

As the flood watch was extended, so, too, were dangerous marine conditions, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Victor Canseco is a tourist from Key West, Florida.

"It's just ironic that I live in Hurricane Alley and I come up here and almost get caught in a hurricane. We dodged a bullet," Canseco said.

CBS2's Cory James Checks Out The Conditions Elsewhere in Suffolk County

A little further west in Huntington, a man and young boy took shelter under their umbrella, watching as county crews drove through flooded roads and an officer nearby taped off an intersection that became unsafe for drivers, CBS2's Cory James reported.

"The roads are pretty bad out here," Marciano Cipriano said.

Cipriano and his wife, Jennifer, know all about dangerous roads. They recorded video in their truck showing just how bad the conditions are for people braving the storms.

"We ran out to do a few errands, getting water, getting food. We could've done it yesterday, but we were working, unfortunately," Jennifer Cipriano said.

But work was going slowly for clerk Hamze Muhammad at a Shell gas station that wasn't seeing many customers. In fact, he reported serving no customers whatsoever.

At Prime and New York avenues, three cars were seen stalled in the rising waters.

"When I opened my door, water just came into my car," one person said.

A car two young men had to push out of the road once the water receded. Their message to people thinking about going was to stay home.

CBS2's Cory James contributed to this report.

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